Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-01-15
APPEALS 10 THE GOVERNOR.
"a Lady witness willie CIuveriuS's
Ietter-GeneraI Lees Reply.

Notwithstanding the strenuous elOrts 80
faithfully made by the spiritual advisers OF
Cluyerius, It would seem that no great i'm
preston was made on him in that direction
after all. Thursday night after II O'Clock
Governor .pe received 2 message from TIE
prisoner at the hands Of one OF the persons
be has trusted most, stating that he was In
Mozart Hall on the night OF the 18th OF
March, having escorted TO that place n
Young lady OF this city, and & at II
Governor Lee would give him a pledge
that he would not give publicity to the
name Of the young lady or OF her having
paid such VISIT, that she, with her mother,
would call on him in the morning (Fn.
day) and make such statement TO him.
The Governor told the gentleman to go
back TO Mr.. Cluverius and tell him he
would be only too glad to see the lady and
hear statement Of that kind, but he could
not pledge absolute secrecy, because II
might be necessary TO have some inquiries,
&C.. made 10 substantiate such an extra
ordinary st4blnent made at such an extra
ordinary time, because, IL true, it would OF
course prove an dlbi, and by 1t all this long
imprlsOnment and trouble 10 the prisoner
could have been 50 easily avoided; but by
all means let the lady come forward. Tne
Governor had a rcprieVe made out ready TO
sign, so that the prisoners life could be
spared even, II necessary, at the last moment,
and waited all the morning in his Office Tor
that or any other important information
that might be brought to him on which he
could have signed the reprieye OF
changed the sentence OF the courts,
but none come. in view Of all
the facts OF the case, the public can hardly
be expected to believe in the existence OF
Young lady in this city who accompanied
Mr.. Cluverius to the Mozart on that Friday
night, and was there with him from to
half. past 10 Z. NJ, or at the very time the
Commonwealth placed him at the reservoir
committing the deed; but, on the contrary,
must regard It an eleventh., or literally
tWelith-hour peryersiOn OF truth. Any
one who but few hours before his death
could make such an attempt TO influence the
action OF the Governor could not have had
buried very deeply into him the principles
OF Gods religion.
CLUVERIUS's LAST NOTE.
Ore of the very last pieces OF writing
done bv the prisoner was TO address note
10 bis Brother Willie. urging Willie TO see
some party and get the party to so before
the Governor and make a statement before
IL O'Clock. The note was taken by an OFF,
Ger 10 Mr., Willie Cluyerius at FOrd's Hotel,
but he could not understand 1t. Some tee-
phoning passed between the Jail and the
hotel. and finally the messenger returned to
the iail; but then the condemned said, No
matter. and the note was destroyed.
Whether the party alluded TO was the
lady mentioned above, or some one else, 70
prove an alb, is not known.
THE BROTHER AND THE GOVERNOR.
The following correspondence Is now
published for the first time:
RICHMOND, VA, December 30. 1888.
To His EIcellency Fitzhugh Lee, Governor Of
Virginia:
Dear Sill trust you will pardon me fol
again bringing before yoar Excelency the
sad case OF my dear brother. In address
ing you this communication my object Is
not to ask for the life Of my betoved brother
but 10 request that you, dear Governor
will call to see him In order That ne may
have the opportunity OF answering any
pound, and also TO give him the privilege
OF tstifying ia his own behalf la person:
This prerogative, as your kxcellency well
knows, he had not the right 10 do
until the Legislature thought 1t wise
session a law giving those tried for felony
the right 10 testify. Neither my brother
nor any member Of his family has ever
criticised In any manner your action In re-
gard TO my uRfortunate brothers case, for
we knew you were conscientious In the dis
charge Of your duty. And while our pray
efe that yOEr conclusions might have been
different, and that the life OF my poor, un-
fortunate brother would have been saved,
yet We knew you only did what you your.
self thought was right. humbly pray that
you win call TO see my brother. Please
giant us this favor, as IL will be gratltica.
tiOn for which we Will ever be thankful 10
our dear Governor. Trusting that at an
early day your Excellency VIII see my bro.
ther. l am, ever your opedient servant
W. b. CLUVERIUS.
P.S. Unless your Excellcncy deem Il pro-
per. please do not give this 70 the public.
Your servant. w. b. CLuvERiUs.
JAsUARY 8. 1887.
Mr.. ". y. CiuUerlus Fords Hotel, City;
My Dear Sir,-The Governor directs me
TO acknowledge the receipt OF your letter OF
the 3ofh instant and TO say that he would
visit your brother al the jail as requested
Tor, indeed, do anything In his power) II he
thought by 30 doing your brothers inno-
cenee Of the crime lof which the courts
pronounced him guilty. could be estab'
lished.
His decision OF this case has been the
most painful act OF his standardization. aud
hts one hope in the labofious Investigation
he has given this subject was TO ind new
facts or evidence which bad not been con
sideFed by judges or Jury, and which woald
demand Executive interpretation.
The Governor does not understand from
your letter that any information will be
given him that he - not sleady In posses
sion OF. and which has not been coEsid
cred, and consequently cannot see the OBJ
Ieet TO be obtained by q compliance with
your request 10 make visit which wouid